The 90's, when Hollywood still knew how to make a good spoof.

Not so good as the second one.

Sharing a movie like this is all about the company, and sitting down to watch Hot Shots! with my father in law made it an absolute standout experience. There is something incredibly special about bonding over this specific brand of timeless, laugh out loud comedy. Trading chuckles over the sheer ridiculousness of the aircraft carrier scenes and watching him crack up at Lloyd Bridges' antics added a whole extra layer of joy to the film. It turned a great comedy into a fantastic, memorable memory.

Hot Shots! is a quality entry from a largely forgotten subgenre — the theatrical spoof movie. There was a time when these were everywhere, and when they hit, they really hit. This one might not reach the heights of Spaceballs or the original Scary Movie, but it absolutely belongs in the conversation. The rapid-fire gag structure works more often than it doesn’t. There are plenty of quality bits, some genuinely clever visual jokes, and a few absurd sequences that still land decades later. Of course, not everything sticks. Some jokes miss entirely, and a few haven’t aged particularly well. Still, as a product of its era, it’s a fun reminder of when spoof comedies were a staple rather than a relic. Rating: 3/5 – 75% – Worth Watching

One of the funniest spoof films ever made, _Hot Shots!_ lampoons some of the most popular films of the ‘80s. Basically a parody of _Top Gun_, ace pilot Topper Harley is recruited and trained for a top secret mission, but is haunted by his past. Starring Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino, and Lloyd Bridges, the cast is full of solid comedic talent. In addition to _Top Gun_, there are parodies of _Dances With Wolves_, _Superman_, _Rocky_, and _9 1/2 Weeks_. The writing is especially good; doing a great job at transitioning into parodies and knowing just how far to take the goofball humor. A smart and hilarious comedy, _Hot Shots!_ is full of laughs.